By Burnett Munthali
Online platforms have become a political battleground as thousands of Malawians take part in opinion polls ahead of the highly anticipated September 2025 presidential elections.
Among the most talked-about polls is the one hosted by Malawi 24 on its official Facebook page, which has been running for three days and continues to draw wide engagement.
So far, Arthur Peter Mutharika, paired with running mate Jane Ansah, is leading the poll with an impressive 19,000 votes.
Trailing behind is Dr. Dalitso Kabambe with 9,600 votes, while current President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera sits in third place with 4,300 votes.
In a separate development, The Maravi Post has launched its own opinion poll, both on its official website and Facebook page, allowing citizens to express their preference from August 2 to August 16, 2025.
Interestingly, voting patterns differ across these platforms.
On The Maravi Post website, Dalitso Kabambe holds the lead, with Joyce Banda—another former president—coming in second.
However, on The Maravi Post Facebook page, the tide shifts back in favor of Arthur Peter Mutharika, who again leads, followed closely by Kabambe.
What’s striking is that just four hours into launching the Maravi Post poll, Mutharika had already surged ahead, underscoring his enduring popularity among online users.
While not official, these polls reflect the mood of a digitally active segment of the population and offer early indicators of where public support may lie.
As voters continue to make their voices heard over the next two weeks, it remains to be seen which candidate will maintain the lead and gain momentum heading into the final campaign stretch.
With each vote cast online, the political picture ahead of the September polls becomes a little clearer.
The question remains: who will emerge as Malawi’s preferred leader in 2025?
